- Senator Nwaebonyi insulted Oby Ezekwesili during a Senate hearing on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition
- Following this, the Senate adjourned the hearing indefinitely
- Subsequently, Nwaebonyi defended his action, claiming Ezekwesili instigated the altercation
Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the Senator representing Ebonyi North, has expressed no regret over insulting former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a Senate hearing.
The confrontation occurred on March 25, 2025, during a session of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, where a petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was being discussed.
Tensions rise as Ezekwesili insists on being heard
Ezekwesili was present at the hearing alongside Akpoti-Uduaghan's lawyer, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, and Zubairu Yakubu, the chief petitioner from Kogi Central.
Tensions escalated when Yakubu called for Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen to step down, citing his alleged bias in handling a sexual harassment allegation against Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Yakubu raised concerns about the chairman's impartiality, stating, “How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? What is the need for us to present our case when a verdict has already been given before hearing us?”
He also suggested that some committee members had pre-existing ties to Akpabio, compromising their neutrality. These remarks angered some lawmakers, who accused Yakubu of attempting to discredit the committee. Ezekwesili also faced criticism for pushing to be included in the proceedings.
Senator Nwaebonyi insults Ezekwesili, calls her a "fool"
Despite objections, she insisted on being heard, saying, “I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria.” The argument escalated when Nwaebonyi directed insults at Ezekwesili, calling her a “fool” and saying, “You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.”
In response, Ezekwesili called him a “hooligan,” further intensifying the verbal clash. The altercation briefly disrupted the hearing before the order was restored.
Senator Patrick Ndubueze from Imo West intervened, urging the committee to maintain decorum. He said, “We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He also expressed disappointment over the petitioner's lack of confidence in the Senate, stressing that not everyone in the room could be trusted.
Chairman Imasuen adjourns senate hearing indefinitely
Despite the appeal for calm, Chairman Imasuen decided to adjourn the hearing indefinitely. He noted that the absence of Kogi lawmaker Akpoti-Uduaghan and the ongoing legal cases involving both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio prevented proper defence of the allegations.
Following the adjournment, Ezekwesili criticised the Senate’s handling of the matter, calling it a violation of the Nigerian Constitution. She argued that the committee's actions prioritised Senate rules over constitutional rights, particularly in cases involving petitions and disciplinary actions.
“The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” she said.
She also referenced Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, claiming it was carried out without regard for constitutional provisions.
Ezekwesili warned that the Senate's conduct could set a dangerous precedent, where internal rules take precedence over the Constitution.
She concluded, “The Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice.”
Senator Nwaebonyi justifies his response to Ezekwesili
In an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday evening, Senator Nwaebonyi defended his actions during the confrontation with Ezekwesili. Nwaebonyi claimed that Ezekwesili had instigated the altercation by calling him a "hooligan" and telling him to "shut up," despite his position as a senator.
According to Nwaebonyi, the incident began when Ezekwesili was asked to take an oath, as she had stated that she was a witness. However, she refused, arguing that she could not be placed under oath. While he was addressing the presiding officer, Nwaebonyi said she turned to him and told him to "shut up" and called him a "hooligan."
He insisted that his response was justified and expressed no regret over the incident. "For a mother like you, a grandmother of your age, a former minister of the Federal Republic to tell a sitting senator to shut up and call him a hooligan, that’s unacceptable," Nwaebonyi remarked.
When asked if he regretted the altercation, Nwaebonyi remained firm, stating, "How can I regret the scenario? I gave it to her. Is it fair for her to address me that way? As a former minister and a grandmother, ask her first."
“You will never walk alone”: Ezekwesili, others react to suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Nigerian Senate after sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio.
The suspension sparked widespread reactions, including calls for justice by former Minister Oby Ezekwesili. TheRadar compiled public reactions over the Senate’s handling of the harassment allegations.